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`( Not for submission under 37 CFR 1.99)
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`Application Number
`
`Filing Date
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`First Named Inventor
`
`Art Unit
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`2007-08-09
`I David S. Breed
`
`Examiner Name
`
`I
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`ATI-484
`
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`U.S. PATENTS
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`I Remove I
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`1
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`4390953
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`1983-06-28
`
`Johnstone
`
`2
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`5041976
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`1991-08-20
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`Marko et al.
`
`3
`
`5123017
`
`1992-06-16
`
`Simpkins et al.
`
`4
`
`5400018
`
`1995-03-21
`
`Scholl et al.
`
`5
`
`5442553
`
`1995-08-15
`
`Parrillo
`
`6
`
`5481906
`
`1996-01-09
`
`Nagayoshi et al.
`
`7
`
`5528698
`
`1996-06-18
`
`Kamei et al.
`
`8
`
`5722686
`
`1998-03-03
`
`Blackburn et al.
`
`EFS Web 2.0
`
`IPR2013-00417 - Ex. 1007
`Toyota Motor Corp., Petitioner
`1
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`

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`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
`STATEMENT BY APPLICANT
`( Not for submission under 37 CFR 1.99)
`
`Application Number
`
`Filing Date
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`First Named Inventor
`
`Art Unit
`
`2007-08-09
`I David S. Breed
`
`Examiner Name
`
`I
`Attorney Docket Number
`
`ATI-484
`
`9
`
`5758300
`
`1998-05-26
`
`Abe
`
`10
`
`5809437
`
`1998-09-15
`
`Breed
`
`11
`
`5922037
`
`1999-07-13
`
`Potts
`
`12
`
`6078537
`
`2000-06-20
`
`Zellner et al.
`
`13
`
`6175787
`
`2001-01-16
`
`Breed
`
`14
`
`6175934
`
`2001-01-16
`
`Hershey et al.
`
`15
`
`6181994
`
`2001-01-30
`
`Colson et al.
`
`16
`
`6567730
`
`2003-05-20
`
`Tanaka
`
`17
`
`6636790
`
`2003-10-21
`
`Lightner et al.
`
`18
`
`6643571
`
`2003-11-04
`
`Gotvall et al.
`
`19
`
`6732031
`
`2004-05-04
`
`Lightner et al.
`
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`2007-08-09
`I David S. Breed
`
`Examiner Name
`
`I
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`
`ATI-484
`
`20
`
`6745153
`
`2004-06-01
`
`White et al.
`
`21
`
`6735506
`
`2004-05-11
`
`Breed et al.
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`Application Number
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`Filing Date
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`2007-08-09
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`ATI-484
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`citation if not in conformance and not considered. Include copy of this form with next communication to applicant.
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`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
`STATEMENT BY APPLICANT
`( Not for submission under 37 CFR 1.99)
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`Application Number
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`Filing Date
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`2007-08-09
`I David S. Breed
`
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`I
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`ATI-484
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`Please see 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 to make the appropriate selection(s):
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`That each item of information contained in the information disclosure statement was first cited in any communication
`D from a foreign patent office in a counterpart foreign application not more than three months prior to the filing of the
`information disclosure statement. See 37 CFR 1.97(e)(1).
`
`OR
`
`That no item of information contained in the information disclosure statement was cited in a communication from a
`foreign patent office in a counterpart foreign application. and, to the knowledge of the person signing the certification
`after making reasonable inquiry, no item of information contained in the information disclosure statement was known to
`D any individual designated in 37 CFR 1.56(c) more than three months prior to the filing of the information disclosure
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`
`D See attached certification statement.
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`~ None
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`/Brian Roffe/
`
`Brian Roffe
`
`Date (YYYY-MM-DD)
`
`2007-08-09
`
`Registration Number
`
`35,336
`
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`

`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`Attorney Docket No. ATI-484
`
`Re:
`
`Application of:
`
`David S. Breed
`
`Serial No.:
`
`Filed:
`
`For:
`
`Not yet known
`
`August 9, 2007
`
`Vehicle Diagnostic or Prognostic Message
`Transmission Systems and Methods
`
`Customer Number:
`
`22846
`
`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
`
`Mail Stop Non Fee
`Commissioner for Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 223l3-1450
`
`Sir:
`
`August 9, 2007
`
`Applicant herewith submits a list of references potentially material to the subject matter of
`
`the above-referenced application andlor which have been made of record in one or more of the
`
`parent applications: Ser. Nos. 10/331,060, 101188,673, 091753,186, 091137,918, 08/476,077,
`
`101174,709, 10/638,743, 10/330,938, 101940,881, 10/6l3,453, 10/805,903, 11/082,739,
`
`101701,361, 091925,062, 09/356,314, 091767,020, 101043,557, 11/039,129, 111131,623,
`
`11/421,500, 11/220,l39, 11/120,065, 11/421,554, 11/422,240, 11/464,288, 10/931,288, and
`
`11/470,06l. Since this application is being filed after June 30, 2003, the requirement for a copy of
`
`the U.S. patent publications has been waived.
`
`This submission does not represent that a search has been made or that no better prior art
`
`exists. While the term "reference" is used in citing each of the publications called to the
`
`7
`
`

`

`Examiner's attention herein, applicant does not make any admission that each or all of them are
`
`"prior art" references within the meaning of the statutory and case law.
`
`Applicant reserves the right to contend, where appropriate, that a reference asserted against
`
`any claim of the present application is not prior art under the facts and the law.
`
`Applicant also reserves the right to present appropriate arguments andlor evidence to
`
`establish patentability over the references, should one or more of the references be applied against
`
`the claims of the present application.
`
`Applicant respectfully requests that the Examiner independently determine those items that
`
`the Examiner would consider the most pertinent of all the references cited herein.
`
`It is respectfully requested that these references be considered and made of record.
`
`Brian Roffe, Esq.
`11 Sunrise Plaza, Suite 303
`Valley Stream, New York 11580-6111
`Tel.: (516) 256-5636
`Fax: (516) 256-5638
`
`Enclosure
`PTO-1449 (6 pages)
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`!Brian Roffel
`
`Brian Roffe
`Attorney for Applicant
`Reg. No. 35,336
`
`2
`
`8
`
`

`

`VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC OR PROGNOSTIC MESSAGE TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS AND METHODS
`
`Attorney Docket No. ATI-484
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is:
`
`1.
`
`a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/331,060 filed Dec. 27, 2002 which
`
`is a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/188,673 filed Jul. 3,2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,738,697, which is:
`
`5
`
`A.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/753,186 filed Jan. 2,2001, now U.S. Pat. No.
`
`6,484,080, which is a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/137,918 filed Aug. 20, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No.
`
`6,175,787, which is a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/476,077 filed Jun. 7, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No.
`
`5,809,437; and
`
`B.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/174,709 filed Jun. 19,2002, now U.S. Pat. No.
`
`10
`
`6,735,506, which is a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/753,186 filed Jan. 2, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No.
`
`6,484,080;
`
`2.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/638,743 filed Aug. 11,2003 which is
`
`A.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/188,673 filed Jul. 3, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No.
`
`6,738,697; and
`
`15
`
`B.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/330,938 filed Dec. 27,2002, now U.S. Pat. No.
`
`6,823,244, which is a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/188,673 filed Jul. 3, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No.
`
`6,738,697;
`
`3.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/940,881 filed Sep. 13, 2004, which is:
`
`A.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/613,453 filed Jul. 3, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No.
`
`20
`
`6,850,824, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/188,673 filed Jul. 3,2002, now U.S. Pat. No.
`
`6,738,697; and
`
`B.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/805,903 filed Mar. 22, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No.
`
`7,050,897, which is:
`
`25
`
`Pat. No. 6,735,506; and
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`Pat. No. 6,738,697;
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/174,709, filed Jun. 19, 2002, now U.S.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/188,673, filed Jul. 3, 2002, now U.S.
`
`4.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 111082,739 filed Mar. 17,2005 which is:
`
`A.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/701,361 filed Nov. 4, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No.
`
`30
`
`6,988,026, which is:
`
`Pat. No. 6,733,036, which is:
`
`1.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/925,062 filed Aug. 8, 2001, now U.S.
`
`1
`
`9
`
`

`

`now U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,704, which is a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/137,918 filed Aug. 20, 1998, now
`
`a.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/356,314 filed Jul 16, 1999,
`
`U.S. Pat. No. 6,175,787; and
`
`5
`
`now U.S. Pat. No. 6,533,316, which is a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/356,314 filed Jul16, 1999, now U.S.
`
`b.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/767,020 filed Jan. 23, 2001,
`
`Pat. No. 6,326,704; and
`
`Pat. No. 6,905,135, which is a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/925,062 filed Aug. 8, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No.
`
`2.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/043,557 filed Jan. 11, 2002, now U.S.
`
`6,733,036; and
`
`10
`
`Pat. No. 6,735,506;
`
`Pat. No. 6,738,697;
`
`15
`
`Pat. No. 6,823,244;
`
`Pat. No. 6,850,824; and
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`5.
`
`6.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/174,709 filed Jun. 19,2002, now U.S.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/188,673 filed Jul. 3, 2002, now U.S.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/330,938 filed Dec. 27, 2002, now U.S.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/613,453 filed Jul 3, 2003, now U.S.
`
`B.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 111039,129 filed Jan. 19,2005, now U.S. Pat. No.
`
`7,082,359 which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/701,361 filed Nov. 4, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No.
`
`20
`
`6,988,026;
`
`5.
`
`aCIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/131,623 filed May 18,2005 which is aCIP of U.S. patent
`
`application Ser. No. 10/043,557 filed Jan. 11,2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,905,135;
`
`6.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 111421,500 filed Jun. 1,2006, which is a CIP of U.S. patent
`
`application Ser. No. 111220,139 filed Sep. 6, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,103,460, which is a CIP of U.S. patent
`
`25
`
`application Ser. No. 111120,065 filed May 2,2005, now abandoned;
`
`7.
`
`8.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 111421,554 filed Jun. 1,2006;
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 111422,240 filed Jun. 5, 2006, which is a CIP of U.S. patent
`
`application Ser. No. 111220,139 filed Sep. 6, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,103,460, which is a CIP of U.S. patent
`
`application Ser. No. 111120,065 filed May 2,2005, now abandoned;
`
`30
`
`9.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 111464,288 filed Aug. 14,2006 which is:
`
`A)
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/931,288 filed Aug. 31,2004, now U.S. Pat. No.
`
`7.164,117, which is:
`
`35
`
`Pat. No. 6,850,824; and
`
`Pat. No. 7,050,897; and
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/613,453 filed Jul. 3, 2003, now U.S.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/805,903 filed Mar. 22, 2004, now U.S.
`
`2
`
`10
`
`

`

`B)
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 111220,139 filed Sep. 6, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No.
`
`7,103,460; and
`
`10.
`
`a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 111470,061 filed Sep. 5, 2006 which is a CIP of U.S. patent
`
`application Ser. No. 111220,139 filed Sep. 6, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,103,460, which is a CIP of U.S. patent
`
`5
`
`application Ser. No. 111120,065 filed May 2,2005, now abandoned.
`
`All of the references, patents and patent applications that are referred to herein and in the parent applications
`
`are incorporated by reference in their entirety as if they had each been set forth herein in full. Note that this application
`
`is one in a series of applications covering safety and other systems for vehicles and other uses. The disclosure herein
`
`goes beyond that needed to support the claims of the particular invention set forth herein. This is not to be construed that
`
`10
`
`the inventor is releasing the unclaimed disclosure and subject matter into the public domain. Rather, it is intended that
`
`patent applications have been or will be filed to cover all of the subject matter disclosed below and in the current
`
`assignee's granted patents and pending applications. Also please note that the terms frequently used below "the
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`invention" or "this invention" is not meant to be construed that there is only one invention being discussed. Instead,
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`when the terms "the invention" or "this invention" are used, it is referring to the particular invention being discussed in
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`the paragraph where the term is used.
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`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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`The present invention relates generally to methods and systems for transmitting a diagnostic or prognostic
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`message from a moving object such as a vehicle to a remote site.
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`There are numerous apparatus, systems and methods described and disclosed herein. Many combinations of
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`these are described but in order to conserve space the inventor has not described all combinations and permutations of
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`these apparatus, systems and methods, however, the inventor intends that each and every such combination and
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`permutation is an invention to be considered disclosed by this disclosure. The inventor further intends to file divisional,
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`continuation and continuation-in-part applications to cover many of these combinations and permutations, if necessary.
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`A detailed background of the invention is found in the parent applications, e.g., U.S. patent application Ser. No.
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`08/476,077 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/753,186, incorporated by reference herein.
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`OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`It is an object of the present invention to provide new and improved methods and systems for transmitting
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`diagnostic and prognostic messages from a moving object to a remote site.
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`In order to achieve this object and others, a system for monitoring the condition of at least one moving object in
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`accordance with the invention includes at least one moving object, such as a vehicle, including a communications unit
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`arranged to interface with a wireless communications network, at least one sensor for monitoring at least one component
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`or subsystem of the moving object and which is coupled to the communications unit, and a remote site connected to the
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`wireless communications network and arranged to receive diagnostic or prognostic messages from the moving object
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`with the transmission initiated from the moving object.
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`In one embodiment, a diagnostic module is provided and each sensor is coupled to or a part of the diagnostic
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`module. The diagnostic module directs the communications unit to transmit a message to the remote site upon
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`determining an actual or potential failure of a component or subsystem. Each sensor may be wirelessly coupled to the
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`communications unit, or through wires via a vehicle bus.
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`The remote site can be any site or location apart from the vehicle which is interested in receiving a message or
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`indication about the diagnostic or prognostic status of one or more components or subsystems of the vehicle. For
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`example, the remote site may be another moving object which can use the diagnostic or prognostic message to determine
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`its course of action, a traffic control system which can use the diagnostic or prognostic message to direct traffic flow to
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`enable the moving object to exit a traffic stream, a manufacturer of the moving object which can use the diagnostic or
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`prognostic message to determine faults with components and notify other vehicle owners or operators about such faults,
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`and/or a seller or repairer of the moving object which can use the diagnostic or prognostic message to contact the vehicle
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`operator or owner to schedule repair or servicing of the moving object.
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`A method for monitoring the condition of at least one moving object in accordance with the invention includes
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`arranging a communications unit on at least one moving object, enabling the communications unit to interface with a
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`wireless communications network, monitoring at least one component or subsystem of the moving object via at least one
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`sensor, generating diagnostic or prognostic information about the component or subsystem based on the monitoring
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`thereof, coupling each sensor to the communications unit, connecting the wireless communications network to a remote
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`site, initiating transmission of diagnostic or prognostic messages from the communications unit of each moving object
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`based on the generated diagnostic or prognostic information, and receiving the transmission at the remote site for further
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`processing.
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`Generating diagnostic or prognostic information about the component or subsystem may entail determining
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`whether the component or subsystem is about to fail. In this case, the transmission of diagnostic or prognostic messages
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`from the communications unit is a transmission of an indication of the actual potential failure of the component or
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`subsystem.
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`With such a transmission, when the remote site is another moving object, it can plan its movement based on the
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`transmission. When the remote site is a traffic control system, the traffic control system can plan traffic control
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`measures based on the transmission, e.g., to enable the moving object to exit a traffic stream if it will be unable to move.
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`When the remote site is a manufacturer of the moving object, the manufacturer can thereby maintain a database of
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`information about the moving object. When the remote site is a repairer or service center of the moving object, it can
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`contact an owner or operator of the moving object to schedule repair of the component or subsystem. The diagnostic or
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`prognostic message may be transmitted to any or all of these remote sites.
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`Moreover, an interface may be provided on the moving object to enable an occupant of the vehicle to initiate
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`the transmission of diagnostic or prognostic messages. In this case, it would be advantageous to notify the occupant of
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`the vehicle about the transmitted message related to the diagnostic or prognostic information about the component or
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`subsystem or simply about the diagnostic or prognostic information, e.g., via a display visible to the occupant.
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`A method for providing status data for vehicle maintenance in accordance with the invention includes
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`monitoring for a triggering event on a vehicle having a wireless communications unit, the triggering event relating to a
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`diagnostic or prognostic analysis of at least one component or subsystem of the vehicle, and initiating a transmission
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`between the communications unit and a remote site in response to the triggering event. The transmission includes a
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`diagnostic or prognostic message about the component or subsystem, e.g., a message about a potential failure of the
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`component or subsystem. The remote site may be a dealer, manufacturer, repair or service facility, with the transmission
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`being directable to multiple remote sites. The triggering event may be a failure, predicted failure or fault code
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`generation of the component or subsystem determined, for example, using a pattern recognition system such as a neural
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`network.
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`A system for providing status data for vehicle maintenance in accordance with the invention includes a
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`diagnostic module including at least one sensor for monitoring at least one component or subsystem of the vehicle, the
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`diagnostic module being arranged to analyze monitoring data provided by each sensor and detect a triggering event
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`relating to a diagnostic or prognostic analysis of a component or subsystem of the vehicle, and a wireless
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`communications unit arranged to interface with a wireless communications network. The communications unit is
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`coupled to the diagnostic module and initiates a transmission between the communications unit and a remote site in
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`response to the triggering event. The transmission includes a diagnostic or prognostic message about the component or
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`subsystem.
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`As used herein, an "occupant restraint device" includes any type of device which is deployable in the event of a
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`crash involving the vehicle for the purpose of protecting an occupant from the effects of the crash and/or minimizing the
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`potential injury to the occupant. Occupant restraint devices thus include frontal airbags, side airbags, seatbelt tensioners,
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`knee bolsters, side curtain airbags, externally deployable airbags and the like.
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`As used herein, a "part" of the vehicle includes any component, sensor, system or subsystem of the vehicle such
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`as the steering system, braking system, throttle system, navigation system, airbag system, seatbelt retractor, air bag
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`inflation valve, air bag inflation controller and airbag vent valve, as well as those listed below in the definitions of
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`"component" and "sensor".
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`As used herein, a "sensor system" includes any of the sensors listed below in the definition of "sensor" as well
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`as any type of component or assembly of components which detect, sense and/or measure something.
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`Other objects and advantages of the present claimed invention and inventions disclosed below are set forth in
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`the '186 application and others will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments taken in
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`conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`The following drawings are illustrative of embodiments of the systems developed or adapted using the
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`teachings of these inventions and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention as encompassed by the claims.
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`FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a generalized component with several signals being emitted and transmitted
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`along a variety of paths, sensed by a variety of sensors and analyzed by the diagnostic module in accordance with the
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`invention and for use in a method in accordance with the invention.
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`FIG. 2 is a schematic of one pattern recognition methodology known as a neural network which may be used in
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`a method in accordance with the invention.
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`FIG. 3 is a schematic of a vehicle with several components and several sensors and a total vehicle diagnostic
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`system in accordance with the invention utilizing a diagnostic module in accordance with the invention and which may
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`be used in a method in accordance with the invention.
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`FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of information flowing from various sensors onto the vehicle data bus and thereby into
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`the diagnostic module in accordance with the invention with outputs to a display for notifying the driver, and to the
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`vehicle cellular phone for notifying another person, of a potential component failure.
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`FIG. S is an overhead view of a roadway with vehicles and a SAW road temperature and humidity monitoring
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`sensor.
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`FIG. SA is a detail drawing of the monitoring sensor of FIG. S.
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`FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a SAW system for locating a vehicle on a roadway, and on the earth surface if
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`accurate maps are available, and also illustrates the use of a SAW transponder in the license plate for the location of
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`preceding vehicles and preventing rear end impacts.
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`FIG. 7 is a partial cutaway view of a section of a fluid reservoir with a SAW fluid pressure and temperature
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`sensor for monitoring oil, water, or other fluid pressure.
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`FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a vehicle suspension system with SAW load sensors.
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`FIG. 8A is a cross section detail view of a vehicle spring and shock absorber system with a SAW torque sensor
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`system mounted for measuring the stress in the vehicle spring of the suspension system of FIG. 8.
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`FIG. 8B is a detail view of a SAW torque sensor and shaft compression sensor arrangement for use with the
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`arrangement of FIG. 8.
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`FIG. 9 is a cutaway view of a vehicle showing possible mounting locations for vehicle interior temperature,
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`humidity, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, alcohol or other chemical or physical property measuring sensors.
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`FIG. lOA is a perspective view of a SAW tilt sensor using four SAW assemblies for tilt measurement and one
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`for temperature.
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`FIG. lOB is a top view of a SAW tilt sensor using three SAW assemblies for tilt measurement each one of
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`which can also measure temperature.
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`FIG. 11 is a perspective exploded view of a SAW crash sensor for sensing frontal, side or rear crashes.
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`FIG. 12 is a perspective view with portions cutaway of a SAW based vehicle gas gage.
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`FIG. 12A is a top detailed view of a SAW pressure and temperature monitor for use in the system of FIG. 12.
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`FIG. l3A is a schematic of a prior art deployment scheme for an airbag module.
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`FIG. l3B is a schematic of a deployment scheme for an airbag module in accordance with the invention.
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`FIG. 14 is a schematic of a vehicle with several accelerometers and/or gyroscop